rj.theshadowrising-第150部分

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　　　　　　　Dav　and　Elam　were　Perrin's　friends；　or　had　been；　panions　in　hunting　and　fishing；　both　his　age　near　enough；　but　their　thrilled　grins　made　them　seem　younger。　Either　Mat　or　Rand　could　have　passed　for　five　years　older　at　least。　Maybe　he　could；　too。
　　　　　　　〃I　hope　he　es　back　soon；〃　Elam　went　on。　〃He　has　been　showing　me　how　to　use　a　sword。　Did　you　know　he's　a　Hunter　for　the　Horn？　And　a　king；　if　he　had　his　rights。　Of　Andor；　I　hear。〃
　　　　　　　〃Andor　has　queens；〃　Perrin　muttered　absently；　meeting　Faile's　gaze；　〃not　kings。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　he　is　not　here；〃　she　said。　Gaul　shifted　slightly；　he　looked　ready　to　go　hunting　for　Luc；　his　eyes　blue　ice。　It　would　not　have　surprised　Perrin　to　see　Bain　and　Chiad　veil　themselves　on　the　spot。
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　Verin　said　vaguely；　manifestly　more　intent　on　her　notes　than　what　she　was　saying。　〃Not　that　he　hasn't　been　a　help　sometimes；　but　he　does　have　a　way　of　causing　trouble　when　he　is　here。　Yesterday；　before　anyone　knew　what　he　was　doing；　he　led　a　delegation　out　to　meet　a　Whitecloak　patrol　and　told　them　Emond's　Field　was　closed　to　them。　He　apparently　told　them　not　to　e　within　ten　miles。　I　cannot　approve　of　Whitecloaks；　but　I　do　not　suppose　they　took　that　very　well。　Not　wise　to　antagonize　them　more　than　is　strictly　necessary。〃　Frowning　at　what　she　had　written；　she　rubbed　her　nose；　seemingly　unaware　of　leaving　a　smudge　of　ink。
　　　　　　　Perrin　did　not　much　care　how　the　Whitecloaks　took　anything。　〃Yesterday；〃　he　breathed。　If　Luc　had　e　back　to　the　village　yesterday；　it　was　not　likely　he　could　have　had　anything　to　do　with　Trollocs　being　where　they　were　not　expected。　The　more　Perrin　thought　about　how　that　ambush　turned　around；　the　more　he　thought　the　Trollocs　must　have　been　expecting　them。　And　the　more　he　wanted　to　blame　Luc。　〃Wanting　won't　make　a　stone　cheese；〃　he　muttered。　〃But　he　still　smells　like　cheese　to　me。〃
　　　　　　　Dav　and　the　other　two　looked　at　each　other　doubtfully。　Perrin　supposed　he　must　not　seem　to　be　making　much　sense。
　　　　　　　〃It　was　a　bunch　of　Coplins；　mainly；〃　the　third　fellow　said　in　a　startlingly　deep　voice。　〃Darl　and　Hari　and　Dag　and　Ewal。　And　Wit　Congar。　Daise　gave　him　a　fit　over　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　heard　they　all　liked　the　Whitecloaks。〃　Perrin　thought　the　bass…voiced　fellow　seemed　familiar。　He　was　younger　than　Elam　and　Dav　by　two　or　three　years　yet　an　inch　taller；　lean…faced　but　with　wide　shoulders。
　　　　　　　〃They　did。〃　The　fellow　laughed。　〃You　know　them。　They　drift　naturally　toward　anything　that　makes　trouble　for　somebody　else。　Since　Lord　Luc　has　been　talking；　they're　all　for　marching　up　to　Watch　Hill　and　telling　the　Whitecloaks　to　get　out　of　the　Two　Rivers。　Anyway；　they're　for　somebody　else　marching　up　there。　I　think　they　mean　to　be　well　back　in　the　pack。〃
　　　　　　　If　that　face　had　been　pudgy；　and　half　a　foot　or　more　nearer　the　ground。。。　〃Ewin　Einngar！〃　Perrin　exclaimed。　It　could　not　be；　Ewin　was　a　stout；　squeaky　little　nuisance　who　tried　to　crowd　in　whenever　the　older　fellows　got　together。　This　lad　would　be　as　big　as　he　was；　or　bigger；　by　the　time　he　stopped　growing。　〃Is　that　you？〃
　　　　　　　Ewin　nodded　with　a　broad　grin。　〃We've　been　hearing　all　about　you；　Perrin；〃　he　said　in　that　surprising　bass；　〃fighting　Trollocs；　and　having　all　kinds　of　adventures　out　in　the　world；　so　they　say。　I　can　still　call　you　Perrin；　can't　I？〃
　　　　　　　〃Light；　yes！〃　Perrin　barked。　He　was　more　than　tired　of　this　Goldeneyes　business。
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　I'd　gone　with　you　last　year。〃　Dav　rubbed　his　hands　together　eagerly。　〃ing　home　with　Aes　Sedai；　and　Warders；　and　an　Ogier。〃　He　made　them　sound　like　trophies。　〃All　I　ever　do　is　herd　cows　and　milk　cows；　herd　cows　and　milk　cows。　That　and　hoe；　and　chop　wood。　You've　had　all　the　luck。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　was　it　like？〃　Elam　put　in　breathlessly。　〃Alanna　Sedai　said　you've　been　all　the　way　to　the　Great　Blight；　and　I　hear　you've　seen　Caemlyn；　and　Tear。　What's　a　city　like？　Are　they　really　ten　times　as　big　as　Emond's　Field？　Did　you　see　a　palace？　Are　there　Darkfriends　in　the　cities？　Is　the　Blight　really　full　of　Trollocs　and　Fades　and　Warders？〃
　　　　　　　〃Did　a　Trolloc　give　you　that　scar？〃　Voice　like　a　bull　or　not；　Ewin　managed　a　sort　of　squeaky　excitement。　〃I　wish　I　had　a　scar。　Did　you　see　a　queen？　Or　a　king？　I　think　I'd　rather　see　a　queen；　but　a　king　would　be　grand。　What　is　the　White　Tower　like？　Is　it　as　big　as　a　palace？〃
　　　　　　　Faile　smiled；　amused；　but　Perrin　blinked　at　the　onslaught。　Had　they　forgotten　the　Trollocs　on　Winternight；　forgotten　the　Trollocs　in　the　countryside　right　then？　Elam　clutched　his　sword　hilt　as　if　he　wanted　to　be　off　for　the　Blight　on　the　instant；　and　Dav　was　up　on　his　toes；　eyes　gleaming；　and　Ewin　looked　ready　to　grab　Perrin's　collar。　Adventure？　They　were　idiots。　Yet　there　were　hard　times　ing；　harder　than　the　Two　Rivers　had　seen　so　far；　he　was　afraid。　It　could　not　hurt　if　they　had　a　little　while　longer　before　they　learned　the　truth。
　　　　　　　His　side　hurt；　but　he　tried　to　answer。　They　seemed　disappointed　he　had　never　seen　the　White　Tower；　or　a　king　or　a　queen。　He　thought　Berelain　might　suffice　for　a　queen；　but　with　Faile　there　he　was　not　about　to　mention　her。　Some　other　things　he　shied　away　from；　Falme；　and　the　Eye　of　the　World；　the　Forsaken；　Callandor。　Dangerous　subjects；　those；　leading　inevitably　to　the　Dragon　Reborn。　He　could　tell　them　a　little　of　Caemlyn；　though；　and　Tear；　of　the　Borderlands　and　the　Blight。　It　was　odd　what　they　accepted　and　what　not。　The　corrupted　landscape　of　the　Blight；　seeming　to　rot　while　you　looked　at　it；　they　ate　up；　and　top…knotted　Shienaran　soldiers；　and　Ogier　stedding　where　Aes　Sedai　could　not　wield　the　Power　and　Fades　were　reluctant　to　enter。　But　the　size　of　the　Stone　of　Tear；　or　the　immensity　of　cities。。。
　　　　　　　About　his　own　supposed　adventures；　he　said　〃Mainly　I've　just　tried　to　keep　from　having　my　head　split　open。　That's　what　adventures　are；　that　and　finding　a　place　to　sleep　for　the　night；　and　something　to　eat。　You　go　hungry　a　lot　having　adventures；　and　sleep　cold　or　wet　or　both。〃
　　　　　　　They　did　not　like　that　very　much；　or　appear　to　believe　it　any　more　than　they　believed　that　the　Stone　was　as　big　as　a　small　mountain。　He　reminded　himself　that　he　had　known　as　little　of　the　world　before　he　left　the　Two　Rivers。　It　did　not　help　much。　He　had　never　been　this　wide…eyed。　Had　he？　The　mon　room　seemed　to　be　hot。　He　would　have　taken　his　coat　off；　but　moving　seemed　too　much　effort。
　　　　　　　〃What　about　Rand　and　Mat？〃　Ewin　demanded。　〃If　it's　all　being　hungry　and　getting　rained　on；　why　didn't　they　e　home；　too？〃
　　　　　　　Tam　and　Abell　had　e　in；　Tam　with　a　sword　belted　on　over　his　coat　and　both　men　with　bows　…　oddly；　the　sword　looked　right　on　Tam；　farm　coat　or　no　…　so　he　told　it　much　as　he　had　before；　Mat　gambling　and　carousing　in　taverns　and　chasing　girls；　and　Rand　in　his　fine　coat　with　a　pretty；　yellow…haired　girl　on　his　arm。　He　made　Elayne　a　lady；　expecting　they　would　never　believe　the　Daughter…Heir　of　Andor；　and　was　proved　right　when　they　expressed　incredulity。　Still；　it　all　seemed　satisfactory；　the　kind　of　thing　they　wanted　to　hear；　and　disbelief　faded　a　bit　when　Elam　pointed　out　that　Faile　was　a　lady　and　seemed　to　be　dancing　attendance　on　Perrin　pretty　sharp。　That　made　Perrin　grin；　he　wondered　what　they　would　say　if　he　told　them　she　was　cousin　to　a　queen。
　　　　　　　Faile　no　longer　appeared　to　be　amused　for　some　reason。　She　turned　on　them　with　a　stare　to　match　Elayne's　haughtiest；　stiff…backed　and　frosty…faced。　〃You　have　badgered　him　enough。　He　is　wounded。　Off　with　you；　now。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　wonder；　they　bowed　clumsily　…　Dav　made　an　awkward　leg；　looking　a　plete　fool　…　and　murmured　hasty　apologies　…　to　her；　not　him！　…　and　turned　to　go。　Their　departure　was　delayed　by　the　arrival　of　Loial；　stooping　through　the　doorway　with　his　shaggy　hair　brushing　the　transom。　They　stared　at　the　Ogier　almost　as　if　seeing　him　for　the　first　time　…　then　glanced　at　Faile　and　hurried　on　their　way。　That　cold；　lady's　stare　of　hers　did　work。
　　　　　　　When　Loial　straightened；　his　head　came　just　short　of　the　ceiling。　His　capacious　coat　pockets　bore　the　usual　squared　bulges　of　books；　but　he　carried　a　huge　axe。　Its　haft　stood　as　tall　as　he　did；　and　its　head；　shaped　like　a　wood…axe；　was　at　least　as　big　as　Perrin's　battle…axe。　〃You　are　hurt；〃　he　boomed　as　soon　as　his　eyes　fell　on　Perrin。　〃They　told　me　you　had　returned；　but　they　did　not　say　you　were　hurt；　or　I　would　have　e　faster。〃
　　　　　　　The　axe　gave　Perrin　a　start。　Among　Ogier；　〃putting　a　long　handle　on　your　axe〃　meant　being　hasty；　or　angry　…　Ogier　seemed　to　see　the　two　as　much　the　same　thing　for　some　reason。　Loial　did　look　angry；　tufted　ears　drawing　back；　frowning　so　his　dangling　eyebrows　hung　down　on　his　broad　cheeks。　At　having　to　cut　trees；　no　doubt。　Perrin　wanted　to　get　him　alone　and　find　out　if　he　had　seen　anything　more　concerning　Alanna's　doings。　Or　Verin's。　He　rubbed　his　face　and　was　surprised　to　find　it　dry；　he　felt　as　if　he　should　be　sweating。
　　　　　　　〃He　is　also　stubborn；〃　Faile　said；　turning　on　Perrin　with　the　same　manding　look　she　had　used　on　Dav　and　Elam　and　Ewin。　〃You　should　be　in　a　bed。　Where　is　Alanna；　Verin？　If　she　is　to　Heal　him；　where　is　she？〃
　　　　　　　〃She　will　e。〃　The　Aes　Sedai　did　not　look　up。　She　was　back　into　her　little　book　again；　frowning　thoughtfully；　pen　poised。
　　　　　　　〃He　should　still　be　in　a　bed！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　have　time　for　that　later；〃　Perrin　said　firmly。　He　smiled　at　her　to　soften　it；　but　all　that　did　was　make　her　look　worried　and　mutter　〃stubborn〃　under　her　breath。　He　could　not　ask　Loial　about　the　Aes　Sedai　in　front　of　Verin；　but　there　was　something　else　at　least　as　important。　〃Loial；　the　Waygate　is　unlocked；　and　Trollocs　ing　through。　How　can　that　be？〃
　　　　　　　The　Ogier's　brows　sank　even　deeper；　and　his　ears　wilted。　〃My　fault；　Perrin；〃　he　rumbled　mournfully。　〃I　put　both　Avendesora　leaves　on　the　outside。　That　locked　the　Waygate　on　the　inside；　but　from　the　outside；　anyone　could　still　open　it。　The　Ways　have　been　dark　for　long　generations；　yet　we　grew　them。　I　could　not　bring　myself　to　destroy　the　Gate。　I　am　sorry；　Perrin。　It　is　all　my　fault。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　did　not　believe　a　Waygate　could　be　destroyed；〃　Faile　said。
　　　　　　　〃I　did　not　mean　destroy；　exactly。〃　Loial　leaned　on　his　long…handled　axe。　〃A　Waygate　was　destroyed　once；　less　than　five　hundred　years　after　the　Breaking；　according　to　Damelle；　daughter　of　Ala　daughter